Fired Apple worker sues, says Steve Jobs promised him job for life

A man who claims Steve Jobs told him he’d always have a job at Apple Inc. is now suing the company for firing him late last year.

Wayne Goodrich, who was formerly in charge of executive producing Apple’s public presentations and who claims to have been Jobs’ “confidant, sounding board and close adviser,” says that after Jobs’ death he was let go by Apple for no legitimate reason.

He is suing the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech company, alleging breach of contract and unfair business practices. He also seeks damages for lost restricted stock units, wages, benefits as well as for emotional distress.

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“This express promise by Steve Jobs was consistent with a practice that Steve Jobs had, acting on behalf of defendant Apple, of promising job security to certain key employees who worked directly with him for many years,” Goodrich said in a complaint filed in court, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

Goodrich is also looking to be compensated for restricted stock he was awarded in 2008, that at the time was worth $97.40 a share. His lawyer, Phil Horowitz, says Apple let Goodrich go to avoid paying the stock.

Goodrich, who had worked for Jobs since 1998, said the late Apple co-founder told him twice that the company would always have a post for him. He said the first time came in May 2005 in a one-on-one meeting.

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He claimed the message was repeated in 2010, when Jobs told him that if anything happened to Goodrich’s position, he would get a different job, even if Jobs was no longer around.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the complaint was filed in California Superior Court in Santa Clara County.

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